The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-20
BEECHER'S GRAVE.
The Spot in Greenwood Cemetery Where the
Great Preachers Remains Are Buried.

Special to the Indianapolis Journaa.
NEW York, Nov. 19.-The remains of Henry
Ward Beecher have been quietly transferred
from their first resting place IN Greenwood
Cemetery to q more suitable in the same
general Enclosure It had been done without
especial ceremony. and nobody except the imme-
date members of the family knew anything
about it until every thing had been accomplished.
The reason for the removal was that the original
plot controlled by the Beecher family was in
too public quarter and was judged unsuitable
for the grave of so eminent The place
chosen and one that will be reserved for the
remains of the family for generations, doubtless.
is on the southeasterly slope of Ocean Hill,
of the most beautiful spots in the cemetery. It
is a round topped hill some what removed from
the centre of the buryinc ground, and yet by no
means near the boundaries of the inclosure 1t
is not rugged hill. but more like extended
lawn, marked here and there with solitary trees.
The top is almost bare of trees and commands a
fine view of the greater part of Greenwood as
we'll as of the waters of New York bay. upper
and lower. and the ocean in the distance beyond
Gravesend and Coney Island. The SPOT where
Mr.. Beechers remains lie is somewhat hidden
from the view of the upper bay, but TO the
south and east the prospect is uninterrupted
No one visits Green wood now without going to
Ocean Hill and that means that a great throng
is there every pleasant day aud on Sunday.
Ocean Hill. in the words of the managers OF
not nearly so numerous there AS in many other
portions For distance of fifty feet more
from the Beecher plot there are no graves as
yet in any direction, but beyond that limit they
appear frequently They arc ali ostentattously
marked and several wealthy manufacturers
and tradesmen are memorialized by the most
expensive monuments, A particularly attract
i've shaft has been raised to perpetuate the fame
of a saltwater man whose publicity in life re-
suited from cleverly designed advertisements.
The Beecher plot is not as yet Enclosed with
any kind or railing. and If 1t were not for tha
low mounds there it would be passed bv as
occupied. Five graves there, fact that
has not been noticed except by visitors to thu
spot. It seems that when the removal of mr.
Beecher's remains mada four other mem
in the same way. Their graves lie in q at
the southern end of the lot. and all ara un-
marked. No attempt has been made to Guilt
yate flowers there and tho graves are covered
only By the sod that was displaced when the
were dug.
Mr. Beecher's grave is in the exact center IF
the lot. and the earth has been piled I'D and
rounded greater extent than was the
case with any of the others But il 10 further
marked by a bed of floral decorations, which
gradually falling ruin in the rain and winds
of approaching winter The entire mound
originally concealed bv a blanket of white i'm
mortelles. Across this, and woven into II.
only florists know how, were bands of purple bios
SONS arranged that thew formed the letters.
n W. BIZ These letters extend in length TO
The full width of the grave The inmortelles
have withered until their white have turned TO
a dull brown, and many of the petals and leaves
have blown away but the marking of the famous
initials is still distinct The northern end OF tho
closing the lot at an early date with orna-
mental iron railing. such as 10 found. IN all
cemeteries to mark the boundaries OF individual
resting places